Making a throwing knife from a file

J

Jay Mulcahy

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Jun 13, 2004
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164
I had a friend ask me to make him up a couple of throwing knives for use at rendezvous. He would like them made from farriers rasps ( I have a bunch laying around and he likes the tooth patern). I have a few annealed already and will make them using stock removal. My question is what is the best way to temper them? They need to take abuse and dont need to hold a keen edge as they throw them into wooden blocks. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!
 
Most of the rasps I have found aren't very hard, and in past discussions with people specializing in throwing knives, they don't have to be particularly hard anyway. Some years back I spoke with the smith at Dollywoods, and he told me he left the throwing knives he made from old truck springs annealed so they wouldn't break at the tip. As he explained it, they are for sticking not cutting, so just make the tip sharp. Hope this helps, CHEERS!
 
If its annealed, you'll need to re-harden, then temper (draw the hardness down).

You'll have to figure out or guess the carbon level of your rasp; find a tempering chart for your steel (google it), and find the temp that corresponds to a Rc of 50. Some go lower (as low as 40), some go higher. I do 1075 at 580°F, W1 at 670°F.

I think 0.90% to 1% carbon would be a good guess.

Harden and temper using methods described in the stickies.
 
i made some trowers from files, i just threw them on a grill, and left them in there on high for an hour or so. then i just ground off the teeth, tang and made both ends somewhat pointy. it was a heavy sob and would stick deep into whatever it hit. it bent a little from bad throw but could be bent back over my knee with a good bit of elbow grease.

i guess if you left it fairly hard and just tempered the tip/ edges it would help keep it from bending.
 
It's not generally advisable to have a keen edge on a throwing knife unless the user is an experienced thrower.
 
Hi Mr George, glad to hear from you. Guys, thanks for the input. I will make one up and leave it annealed rather than screw around with heattreating it. I like keeping it simple.
 
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